Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea, a first-time free agent whenever the NBA lockout is lifted, strongly believes he will be back to defend the franchise’s first championship. “If you want to go by percentages, I think 75 percent I’ll be back in Dallas and 25 percent something else happens,” Barea said, now back home in Puerto Rico after a bid to qualify for the 2012 Olympics fell painfully short with a semifinals loss to host country Argentina at the FIBA Americas Tournament. “… My first option is going to be Dallas.”

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: The great Chuck Daly believed the turning point for the Detroit Pistons was when Isiah Thomas decided he'd sacrifice his individual numbers for the collective good of the team.

Thomas could have easily averaged 25-30 points per game, however, his lofty scoring average made it difficult for the Pistons to climb the Eastern Conference standings.

The Pistons only evolved from good to great to two-time champion once Thomas scaled back his individual numbers and engaged his much-improved supporting cast.

Now Russell Westbrook is not Thomas, the Hall of Fame point guard. And his Oklahoma City Thunder are not the Detroit Pistons of the late eighties.

Like Thomas, Westbrook, a score-first point guard, must decide if he too will sacrifice. After all, he looked for his own offence at the expense of teammates during last year's playoff, which led to coach Scott Brooks pulling him in key situations.

That said, it’s a positive that Westbrook considers point guard his 'natural' position, and hopefully he has decided to set-the-table for teammates.

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: It makes some sense -more than hiring Don Nelson, at least.

Larry Brown is best when spreading his ‘Play The Right Way’ mantra amongst a young, impressionable group. After all, Brown considers himself a teacher of the game, and clearly he suffers for his students.

Well, the Minnesota Timberwolves are young and impressionable. They've won just 32 games since 2009, so Brown’s message would, at least initially, hold weight.

The on-court dynamic would be fine -for a while. The off-court end of things sounds dicey.

Yes, Wolves GM David Kahn has known Brown since their days at UCLA. In fact, Kahn considers Brown a mentor, who guided him as a young, impressionable reporter on the west coast.

This is a problem. Brown, to be effective on the sideline, needs a strong counterweight in the front office, who can laugh off his idiosyncrasies, worrying, and perfectionist nature.

There was the legendary Donnie Walsh in Indiana. There was the enthusiastic Pat Croce in Philadelphia. And there was Joe Dumars, who at the time still possessed his magical touch in Detroit.

This trio knew when to listen and when to ignore Brown. Not surprisingly, this formula worked in Indiana, Philadelphia, and Detroit.

Kahn is already a disaster. He would misread, misquote, and mishandle Brown, which, in turn, would have a negative impact on those young, impressionable, and talented players.

The nomad sideline boss isn’t right for the Wolves. But this is about Kahn's inadequacies, not Brown's.--Oly Sandor.

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Larry Brown has burned more bridges than a pyromaniac serving a five year bid at Sing, Sing prison in upstate New York.

Brown is the nomad coach. When the going gets tough, he gets going. Or when he thinks the grass is greener on the other side, he goes to the other side.

Just ask the Charlotte Bobcats and Los Angeles Clippers or the Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks or the Philadelphia 76ers and those same Pistons.

Of course, this doesn't stop Brown from demanding his players 'Play The Right Way'. It doesn't matter that he's doing the opposite in front of them.

Despite the hypocrisy, Brown can teach youngsters. Unfortunately, the Boston Celtics are a veteran crew. Old heads like Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce won’t want to deal with the overbearing, impatient, and frustrating Brown.

Celtics head coach ‘Doc’ Rivers won’t be particularly enthused with Brown’s idiosyncrasies either -especially if he’s only using the defensive coordinator gig to showcase himself for a head coaching job.

Rivers and the Celtics should avoid Brown. He’ll burn them like he has so many other teams.

“I just want to do whatever an organization wants me to do,” Iverson said. “Everybody made a big thing about me not wanting to come off the bench, but I said that at that point because it never happened to me in my life and it was something new to me, and obviously I didn’t know how to handle it. But to be back on the biggest stage is my whole thing and I feel like I have a couple more years left in my career and I want to play. I sat through and watched the whole season and it was tough for me. Now I just try to do what I have to do to be physically and mentally able to get back on the stage.”

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: It's hard to take Allen Iverson at his word. It's hard to believe he'd play a role.

Iverson refused to come off the bench and play behind Rip Hamilton, a long-time cog for some strong Detroit Pistons teams. Motown quickly became a fiasco.

Iverson, despite missing training camp with leg ailments, threw a fit when Memphis Grizzlies Coach Lionel Hollins didn't start him. The club released him one week into the 2009-10 season.

Iverson had an up-and-down second-stint with the Philadelphia 76ers. His run in Turkey was cut short by injuries. In both stops, there were reports of personal issues that have not been resolved.

So there's little or no evidence to suggest Iverson could handle being a reserve, could handle fluctuating minutes, could handle getting a few shots per night. Then there's his baggage.

Of course, one of the NBA's greatest little men deserved better. Iverson refused to transition gracefully. He refused to sign with a contender, say San Antonio or Boston, and become a second unit game-changer.

Instead, it was all about Iverson –even when his career was fading. His stubbornness, that intangible that once made him great, will likely cost Iverson a chance to show us he has changed.

Tracy McGrady heading to the Boston Celtics sounds good, however, there's the risk the former superstar won't accept less minutes, less shots, and less touches with Doc Rivers' squad.

After all, McGrady still, to some extent, believes he's 'T-Mac', the seven-time All-Star and two-time scoring champ. Last year McGrady, despite being past-his-prime, acted like a spoiled first-option and undermined Detroit Pistons coach John Kuester.

Such behaviour would never fly in Boston. He'd have to check his ego. He'd have to sit and watch his peers –veteran stars like Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce – play. And he'd have to come off-the-bench.

In short, he'd have to become a professional. Nothing else would be tolerated by Rivers and GM Danny Ainge.

Of course, there is an alternative. McGrady can sign with another rebuilding squad and try parlaying the extra minutes and extra shots into a final, decent-money contract.

That would mean more meaningless basketball, though. In fourteen seasons, McGrady has never made the second round –ever. There was the choke-job with Orlando; there were tears in Houston.

Hopefully, McGrady has pride. Hopefully, he considers Boston. Hopefully, he becomes a professional –if he signs. It's not too late to salvage what he can.

Finally, the NBA Draft is here. The gossip, speculation, and home videos of mysterious Euro prospects is no more.

Below is how things officially unfolded in real time, with live analysis at the HoopsVibe News headquarters. So get at us with thoughts, ideas, and opinions in the comment box below.

1) Kyrie Irving to Cleveland Cavaliers.

Details: PG, 6-2, 181, Duke Blue Devils, Fr.

Pros: Irving is a good athlete, who uses his quickness and feel for the game to attack the basket. He’s smart, tough, and had little issue leading more experienced teammates during the NCAA tournament.
Cons: While Irving is a good athlete, he isn’t explosive or big. And he missed much of his freshmen year with a toe injury. So the New Jersey native is a risk.

Fit: He'll be fine as long as he doesn't follow Baron Davis' training routine or try to replace that LeBron guy.

2) Derrick Williams to Minnesota Timberwolves.

Details: PF, 6-9, 248, Arizona Wildcats, So.
Pros: He’s a pick-your-poison scorer. In his second season, Williams improved his ability to attack the basket, while also being able to knock down jump shots. This combination of skill and athleticism should make Williams a difficult match-up for opposing defenses.
Cons: Some feel Williams is a ‘tweener’, stuck between the 3 and 4 spots. And they’re unsure if his athleticism can compensate for his 6-9 height,

Fit: Is there room for Kevin Love, Mike Beasley, and Williams in the frontcourt?

3) Enis Kanter to Utah Jazz.

Details: C, 6-10, 260, Turkey, 19 years of age.

Pros: Strong, skilled, and tough is how most describe Kanter. His polished game and physical tools should make a pretty good NBA player.

Cons: Kanter is undersized and not especially explosive for a five-man. And can his knee hold up to the grind of an NBA season?

Fit: His strong IQ and blue-collar approach makes him perfect for the Jazz.

4) Tristan Thompson to Cleveland Cavaliers.

Details: PF, 6-9, 225, University of Texas, Fr.

Pros: Thompson should have a nice NBA career because of his wingspan, improving body, and lefty skill-set. His energy and work on the glass is also a plus.

Cons: Despite shedding baby fat, Thompson is still a little undersized to handle NBA power forwards.

Fit: The Canadian can play, but going fourth overall was a surprise. He'll need time to develop his offensive game for the Cavs.

5) Jonas Valanciunas to Toronto Raptors

Details: PF, 6-10, 230, Lithuania, 18 years old.

Pros: Valanciunas is an energetic player, who is active on the offensive glass and gets his share of put-back points. At 18, some believe he has the most upside of any player in the draft.

Cons: He’s extremely raw and could take several years before making an impact.

Fit: Of course, GM Bryan Colangelo had to take a Euro. But the young Lithuanian has a chance to be real good.

6) Jan Vesely to Washington Wizards.

Details: PF, 6-11, 240, Czech Republic, 21 years old.

Pros: He’s not your typical Euro. Long, athletic, and explosive, Vesely loves to get up the floor and throw down monster jams. His length and versatility makes him a force on both ends of the floor.

"Just give me a training camp," he said. "Maybe I've rubbed people the wrong way as far as saying the things I've said in my life and in my career. But if any team needs me to help try and win a championship in any capacity, I'm waiting."

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Allen Iverson is like the boxer who hung on past his prime.

Currently, Iverson is out the NBA and plying his trade in Turkey before injury ended his overseas experiment prematurely. While Europe is good, the NBA is better. And Iverson is positioning himself to get a training camp invite.

Here’s the problem: Iverson, if healthy and focused, won’t play a role.

He won’t come off the bench. He won’t serve as a reserve. And he won’t defer. It’s not in his nature. Instead, he’ll demand minutes. He’ll demand touches. And he’ll demand to start.

Like with the Detroit Pistons. And like with the Memphis Grizzlies.

This is, after all, Iverson. The combo guard is stuck in a time warp, believing he still resembles the player who won the regular season MVP a decade ago. This perception clashes with the reality that Iverson is no longer The Answer.

He deserved a better ending. One of the game’s greatest little men of all time should be celebrated, not hanging on too long.

John Kuester will not be returning to the Pistons as head coach, according to sources. Kuester has posted a 57-107 mark in his two years in Detroit. Kuester seemed to have a personality clash with Richard Hamilton, Rodney Stuckey, Tayshaun Prince and Tracy McGrady.

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: John Kuester didn’t deserve to keep his job as coach of the Detroit Pistons. He did, however, deserve to be treated better.

After all, the players crapped on their sideline boss, viewing him as a career assistant who didn’t deserve to sit in the big chair.

From day one Kuester didn’t have their respect. Veteran Rip Hamilton chewed him out in front of the team. Several players boycotted practice. And many of those same players were caught laughing on camera when he got ejected from a game.

Kuester was part of the problem. Clearly, there were others.

It starts with GM Joe Dumars, who has lost his touch. The roster he assembled is flawed, dysfunctional, and overmatched.

Fortunately, the Pistons have new owners. So Kuester won’t be the only change.

According to the report, the Cavs would send their $14.5 million trade exception to the Pistons for the eighth pick and veteran shooting guard Richard Hamilton. They then would trade the fourth and eighth picks to Minnesota for the second pick. If the reported trade is executed, the Cavs would possess the top two picks -- and use them to take Duke point guard Kyrie Irving and Arizona forward Derrick Williams. The report also said the Cavs would buy out the remainder of Hamilton's $25 million contract.

Former Detroit Pistons Dennis Rodman has been elected into the Basketball Hall of Fame, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The official announcement will be made Monday at the Final Four in Houston.

“I see myself playing five more years,’’ McGrady said. That might not be easy for McGrady, a 14-year veteran who turns 32 in May. He has a lot of wear and tear on his body, something he said came from all those years of having to carry the Magic and Rockets.

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Tracy McGrady could easily float his way through the NBA for another five years.

He could bounce from irrelevant destination to irrelevant destination, getting minutes as a reserve and spot starter.

Hopefully, he’s learned from his experience with the Detroit Pistons. Hopefully, he’s learned playing for a mediocre franchise isn’t much fun. And hopefully, McGrady will sign on for the minimum with a contender and agree to play a role.

McGrady will never again be T-Mac, the 30 points per game superstar of the past. But he can still use his length, passing ability, and athleticism to facilitate and defend for teammates.

In short, McGrady needs to hit up Classic ESPN and watch highlights of his time with the Toronto Raptors. Back then, he was a very good complementary player.

Of course, McGrady was willing to play a secondary role. And it remains to be seen if he’d do it again –even if it meant getting to play meaningful basketball for a contender.

“Tracy McGrady was 1,000 hours of practice,” Van Gundy said to laughter from the audience. “He should be a Hall of Fame player. His talent was other-worldly. He was given a great leg up in the race against other players. He’s as close as I’ve ever seen to someone with a perfect body and a good mind.”

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: For Tracy McGrady, it was never about winning or about being the best he could for his team.

Not in Toronto. Not in Orlando. Not in Houston. Not in New York. And not in Detroit, either.

For McGrady, it has always been about one thing: getting his. Minutes, touches, and shots have always taken precedence over wins and losses.

Sadly, McGrady still could have salvaged something from his career this summer. He could have signed on as a reserve with a contender. He could have agreed to play a role; blocking shots, facilitating, and using his length on defense like he did with the Toronto Raptors.

Instead, he’s part of the problem with the Detroit Pistons. No matter how much you hate your boss, there’s never an excuse for not appearing at practice like McGrady did last week.

Sadly, there was no punishment. After all, the Pistons are in flux; Coach John Kuester is a lame duck; Executive Joe Dumars is on shaky ground; and the roster has underachieved.

Change won’t occur until the team is sold, so McGrady got off scotch free for his no-show. Things could be different in a few months, though.

In July, McGrady becomes an unrestricted free agent. Teams will see his numbers: 9 points and 4 assists. Teams will remember his one-day boycott. And they`ll take a pass.

His career will be over with a whimper. Bottom line: the great McGrady will go down as a ‘should have’.
--Oly Sandor.

This line isn’t new to James. It may or may not bother him. However, his kids where at The Palace in Auburn Hills and he didn’t want them hearing rumors about their grandmother and West. So he stepped up.

Reports indicate Allen ‘The Answer’ Iverson won’t return to his Turkish club team this season because of a leg injury. Of course, next year has to be in doubt, too.

However, the real issue is whether Iverson retires or keeps trudging along, seeking a job overseas as a way to land one final audition with an NBA team.

The last few years have been tough on Iverson. There was his messy divorce with the Philadelphia 76ers; he and Carmelo Anthony never met expectations with the Denver Nuggets; Detroit and Memphis was a disaster; and his reunion with the 76ers was mixed.

Before getting injured, Iverson was having a mediocre season with a somewhat competitive Turkish squad.

Perhaps Iverson is at fault for the way his career is ending. But one of the greatest little men to ever play basketball deserves better than this.

Allen Iverson: An MRI has revealed a legion that is in my right leg and pressing against the bone. I am coming home for further examinations and possibly surgery. I have never said anything about retirement.

Hoops Vibe’s Very Quick Call: It should not end like this. Allen Iverson, the greatest little man to ever play basketball, deserves better.

Far better, in fact.

Iverson has left the Turkish club he had been playing for to have a legion removed on his leg. He will be in the United States indefinitely.

He insists this is not the end of the line, though. Like a heavyweight boxer holding on for a final payday, he wants to return. After all, there is another year and $2 million dollars waiting for him in Turkey.

However, Iverson’s last few situations have not ended well. He was run out of Detroit; he quit on Memphis after three games; and had to leave Philadelphia for personal reasons.

And now his body gave out on him while playing for a mediocre European squad.

Perhaps Iverson should it call a day and retire. Perhaps he was never meant to have a happy ending.

The Nets are "further along" in talks with the Nuggets on a blockbuster trade for Carmelo Anthony than they have been ever before, according to sources. A three-team deal involving the Pistons that would include at least 15 players could be completed as soon as this week.

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Is this it? Are the Denver Nuggets finally cutting ties with Carmelo Anthony and trading him to the New Jersey Nets in this much discussed and debated three-team, fifteen player blockbuster?

Denver would rebuild with Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, and multiple first-round draft picks, while the Detroit Pistons, the third team in this arrangement, would gain financial flexibility with Troy Murphy’s expiring contract.

However, the Nets would be the real winners. They’d get Anthony, Chauncey Billups, and Richard Hamilton, who’d fit nicely with 20-10 man Brook Lopez. This would instantly transform them into a contender.

With Anthony, the Nets’ brand would be able to compete with the powerful New York Knicks. The club is soon moving from New Jersey to Brooklyn, and they desperately need a franchise face to establish a presence in Knick-land.

Before any of this can take shape the Nets have to put the rumors to rest and officially acquire Anthony. This, as we know, is easier said than done.